U.S. patent number 5,853,060 [Application Number 08/726,003] was granted by the patent office on 1998-12-29 for automotive vehicle hood latch release system.
Invention is credited to Yi Jen Chao, James Lee Salmon, Patti M. Warren.
United States Patent |
5,853,060 |
Chao , et al. |
December 29, 1998 |
Automotive vehicle hood latch release system
Abstract
In an automotive vehicle having a hood covering an underhood
area in a front portion of the vehicle and a vehicle body defining
a vehicle interior, a hood latch release system has a striker
mounted in the underhood area, a primary latch mounted in the
underhood area for latching to the striker to retain the hood in
substantially flush relationship with the vehicle body, and a
secondary latch mounted in the underhood area for latching to the
striker when the primary latch is unlatched from the striker. The
primary latch and the secondary latch are released from the striker
by a cable-operated latch release lever. A cable is connected to
the release lever on one end and on the other end is connected to a
latch release handle located in a depression in a surface of the
vehicle interior coverable by a driver's door when in a closed
position so as to prevent movement of the latch release handle, the
latch release handle movable to operate the latch release lever
when the driver's door is in an open position uncovering the
depression.
Inventors: |
Chao; Yi Jen (West Bloomfield,
MI), Salmon; James Lee (Dearborn Heights, MI), Warren;
Patti M. (Oak Park, MI) |
Family
ID: |
24916817 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/726,003 |
Filed: |
October 4, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/69.2;
180/89.17; 292/DIG.14; 180/289; 292/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
83/16 (20130101); Y10T 292/1047 (20150401); Y10S
292/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/12 (20060101); E05B 65/19 (20060101); B62D
025/12 (); B60R 025/04 (); E05C 003/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/69.2,69.21,89.17,289 ;292/DIG.14,DIG.25 ;296/146.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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152500 |
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Jul 1953 |
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AU |
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947440 |
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Dec 1954 |
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DE |
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907930 |
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Mar 1961 |
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GB |
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2 031 509 |
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Apr 1980 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Johnson; Brian L.
Assistant Examiner: Avery; Bridget
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kelley; David B.
Claims
We claim:
1. A hood latch release system for an automotive vehicle having a
hood covering an underhood area in a front portion of the vehicle
and a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment therein, the
system comprising:
a striker mounted on an underside of the hood;
a latch mounting plate mounted in the underhood area;
a primary latch mounted to the latch mounting plate and movable to
a latch position in which the striker is retained by the primary
latch and biased to an unlatch position in which the striker is
unlatched therefrom;
a secondary latch mounted to the latch mounting plate and having a
lock position in which the striker is obstructed from movement out
of the latch mounting plate and an unlock position in which
movement of the striker from the mounting plate is not obstructed
by the secondary latch;
a release lever pivotably mounted to the latch mounting plate for
movement between a primary latch hold position maintaining the
primary latch in the latch position, a primary latch release
position releasing the primary latch to move to the unlatch
position, and a secondary latch release position in which the
secondary latch is moved to the unlock position;
a release handle adapted to be, located in a depression in a
surface of the passenger compartment coverable by the driver's door
when in a closed position, the release handle movable between a
first position substantially contained in the depression so that
the release lever is maintained in the primary latch position, a
second position in which the release handle projects from the
depression and the release lever is moved to the secondary latch
position, and a third position in which the release handle projects
from the depression and the release lever is moved to the secondary
latch release position; and
a cable having a first end connected to the release lever and a
second end connected to the release handle.
2. A hood latch release system according to claim 1 wherein the
latch mounting plate is attached to a radiator support in the
underhood area.
3. A hood latch release system according to claim 1 wherein the
release lever is biased to the primary latch hold position.
4. A hood latch release system according to claim 1 wherein the
secondary latch has an actuator pin thereon adjacent the release
lever for interaction therewith to move the secondary latch to the
unlock position when the release lever is moved to the secondary
latch release position.
5. A hood latch release system according to claim 4 wherein the
latch housing has a striker slot therein for receiving the
striker.
6. A hood latch release system according to claim 5 wherein the
primary latch has a primary latch slot defined by a pair of opposed
latch fingers and is pivotally mounted to the latch housing so that
the striker is retained in the latch slot by one of the pair of
fingers when the primary latch is in the latch position, the one of
the pair of latch fingers releasing the striker when the primary
latch is moved to the unlatch position.
7. A hood latch release system according to claim 6 wherein the
secondary latch is pivotally mounted to the latch housing and has a
hook member obstructing movement of the striker out of the striker
slot when the secondary latch is in the lock position, the hook
member movable so as to allow movement of the striker from the
striker slot when the secondary latch is in the unlock
position.
8. A hood latch release system according to claim 7 wherein the
primary latch and the release lever are mounted on a first side of
the latch housing, the secondary latch is mounted to a second side
of the latch housing, and the actuator pin extends from the
secondary latch through a pin slot in the latch housing so as to be
contactable by the release lever.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automotive vehicle hood latching
mechanisms in general, and more specifically to hood latching
mechanisms releasable from inside the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automotive vehicles have long had a hood in the section of the
vehicle in front of the passenger compartment to cover an underhood
area, which typically contains an engine. In a closed position, the
hood is usually flush with adjacent body surfaces to provide a
smooth, continuous vehicle body appearance. When access is desired
to the underhood area, for example to perform maintenance on the
engine contained therein, the hood is moved to an open position. In
order to achieve this open position, the hood must be unlatched. A
typical vehicle hood latch system has two latches, a first being
remotely releasable from the passenger compartment by pulling a
lever connected to a cable, which subsequently pulls the first
latch to an unlatched position. In order to prevent the hood from
moving to an open position and obstructing a driver's forward
vision, a second latch it is typically provided to be accessible
from an area in the front of the vehicle, thus requiring that a
individual be stationed in front of the vehicle in order to open
the hood. A normal sequence for opening the hood of a vehicle would
thus be to operate the first latch from within the vehicle
compartment, which would allow the hood to open a predetermined
distance. The person would then exit the vehicle and go to the
front area, whereupon the second latch would then be disengaged
manually by positioning a hand beneath the hood and operating the
second latch directly.
Hood latch release mechanisms are known in which the unlatching
movement of the first latching mechanism and release of the second
latching mechanism can be accomplished from within the vehicle
passenger compartment, so that it is unnecessary to reach into the
hood through a predetermined cover opening to release the second
latch, as described above. Such a mechanism was disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 2,256,465 (Brubaker). While such a mechanism prevents the
inconvenience of having to reach beneath the hood, it also
increases the risk of inadvertently unlatching the hood and
obstructing the driver's view. There is thus a need for a hood
latch release system in which both the primary and secondary
latches may be released from within the vehicle passenger
compartment, but which prevents inadvertent release of the
hood.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the deficiencies of the related art, the present
invention provides a hood latch release system for an automotive
vehicle having a hood covering and underhood area in a front
portion of the vehicle and a vehicle body defining a vehicle
interior therein. The hood latch release system has a striker
mounted in the underhood area, for example to an underside of the
hood, a primary latch mounted in the underhood area for latching to
the striker to retain the hood in substantially flush relationship
with the vehicle body, a secondary latch mounted in the underhood
area for latching to the striker when the primary latch is
unlatched therefrom, a latch release for releasing the primary
latch and the secondary latch from the striker, and a latch release
handle connected to the latch release and located in the depression
in a surface of the vehicle interior coverable by a driver's door
when in a closed position so as to prevent movement of the latch
release handle, the latch release handle moveable to operate the
latch release when the driver's door is in an open position
uncovering the depression. Preferably, the depression is located in
an instrument panel surface coverable by the driver's door when in
a closed position.
An advantage of the present invention is a hood latch release
system in which the hood may be released from inside the passenger
compartment of the vehicle while assuring that the hood will not
inadvertently be released.
A feature of the present invention is a hood latch release system
in which the latch release handle is located in a depression in a
surface of the vehicle interior coverable by the driver's door when
the door is in a closed position, so as to prevent movement of the
latch release handle and thus avoid unintentional release of the
hood until the driver's door is moved to an open position
uncovering the latch release handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the automotive hood
latching arts upon reading the following description with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle showing a
front door opening to an interior passenger compartment with a hood
latch release handle in a door mating surface of an instrument
panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective of a vehicle showing a hood for
covering an underhood area and having a striker mounted thereto for
interaction with a remotely operated hood release lever in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through an instrument panel of the
automotive vehicle and a vehicle door shown in a closed position
abutting the instrument panel surface so as to cover a depression
containing a hood latch release handle so as to prevent operation
thereof;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the
vehicle door in an open position uncovering the depression
containing the hood latch release handle so as to permit operation
thereof;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hood latch release handle shown
projecting from the depression in the instrument panel surface when
moved to operate the hood latch release;
FIG. 6 is a front view of a hood latch release shown with a primary
latch retaining a striker and the hood latch release handled
contained in an instrument panel depression;
FIG. 7 is a rear view of the hood latch of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a front view of a hood latch similar to FIG. 6, but
showing the primary latch released and the secondary latch
retaining the striker, the latch release handle shown projecting
from the depression in the instrument panel;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a secondary latch
released from the striker;
FIG. 10 is a front view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the striker
in a position away from the primary and secondary latches; and
FIG. 11 is a rear view of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2
thereof, an automotive vehicle 10 is shown as having a vehicle body
surface 12 a portion of which has a hood 14 for covering an
underhood 16 in a front portion 18 of the vehicle 10. The hood 14
is preferably pivotably mounted along a rear edge 20 for movement
between a cover position (not shown) covering the underhood area
16, and an open position in which a forward edge 22 of the hood 14
rises substantially above a mating surface 24 and adjacent body
surfaces 26 so as to allow access to the under area 16. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that the hood 14 may be mounted
in other ways, for example with the front edge 22 as the pivot edge
so that the rear edge 20 rises above the surrounding surfaces, and
that the present invention is not limited to the hood arrangements
show in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, on an under side 28 of the hood
14 is mounted a striker 30 for interaction with a latch mechanism
32, as further described below. The latch mechanism 32 is
preferably mounted on a radiator support 34 in the underhood area
16, but can be mounted in another area. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that the mounting locations of the striker 30 and
the latch mechanism 32 may be interchanged, that is, the latch
mechanism may be mounted on the under side 28 of the hood 14 and
the striker 30 may be mounted at a location in the underhood area
16. It should be understood that the present invention is not to be
limited by the striker 30 and latch mechanism 32 locations of FIGS.
1 and 2.
The vehicle body 12 defines a vehicle interior 36 (FIG. 1) such as
a passenger compartment. Within the vehicle interior 36 is an
instrument panel 38 having various surfaces, including a lateral
surface 40 which is located on a driver's side of the front seating
area of the vehicle 12 near a steering wheel 42. The surface 40 is
adjacent to a trim panel 44 of a driver's door 46, which in
conventional fashion, is movable between an open position (FIG. 1
and 4) and a closed position (FIG. 3).
As best seen in 3-5, the surface 40 of the instrument panel 38 has
a depression 48 therein which receives a release handle 50. The
release handle 50 has a first position substantially contained in
the depression 48 in (FIG. 3) so as to be inaccessible from the
vehicle interior 36 when the driver's door 46 is in the closed
position. Thus, the release handle can not be moved when the
driver's door is closed thereby preventing opening of the hood 14.
When the driver's door 46 is in the open position (FIG. 4), the
release handle can be moved to a second position projecting from
the depression 48 so as to pull on the cable 52 to actuate the
latch mechanism 32 as is further described below. The hood 14 can
therefore be opened only when the driver's door 46 is in the open
position to allow access to the release handle 50, thus providing
security against inadvertent opening of the hood 14.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the latch mechanism 32 is shown having a
latch mounting plate 54 to which a primary latch 56 is pivotally
attached at the pivot point 58. A primary latch 56 has a primary
latch slot 60 defined by a pair of opposed latched fingers 62a,
62b. In a latch position, as seen in FIG. 6, the primary latch 56
retains the striker 30 within the latch slot 60 by the latch finger
62a. The primary latch 56 is biased to rotate counterclockwise
about the pivot point 58 to an unlatched position in which the
striker 30 is unlatched therefrom (FIG. 8). Preferably, the biasing
force is provided by a spring 64 attached on one end 66a to the
latch mounting plate 54 and the other end 66b to the primary latch
56.
The latch mounting plate 54 has a striker slot 55 extending in a
generally vertical direction, it being understood that vertical for
purposes of FIG. 6 is from the top of the page to the bottom of the
page. The striker slot 55 receives the striker 30 when the hood 14
is moved to the closed position.
As seen in FIG. 6, a release lever 68 is pivotably mounted to the
latch mounting plate 54 and has a primary latch hold position in
which the primary latch 56 is maintained in the latch position. The
primary hold latch position of the release lever 68 is effected by
a spur 70 mating with the finger 62b of the primary latch 56 to
hold the latter against the counterclockwise rotation of the
biasing force of spring 64. The cable 52 is preferably connected on
a first end 110 to an eyelet 112 of the release handle 50, and on a
second end 114 to a shield 116 of the release lever 68 (FIG.
6).
As seen from the opposite side of the latch mechanism 32 in FIG. 7,
the latch mounting plate 54 has a secondary latch 72 pivotably
mounted thereto around a pivot point 74. The secondary latch 72 has
actuated pin 76 fixed thereto which extends through a pin slot 78
in the latch mounting plate 54 so as to be contactable by the
release lever 68 on the opposite side of the latch mounting plate
54. A secondary latch 72 also has a hook member 80 for obstructing
movement of the striker 30 out of the striker slot 55 when the
secondary latch 72 is in a lock position (FIGS. 7 and 8).
Operation of the hood latch release system of the present invention
is accomplished as follows. When the hood 14 is in a closed
position, the striker 30 is retained in the striker slot 55 by the
primary latch 56 (FIG. 6). With the driver's door 46 in a closed
position (FIG. 3), the hood 14 cannot be opened since access to the
release handle 50 is obstructed by the driver's door 46. Thus,
inadvertent opening of the hood 14 is obviated, for example, when
the vehicle 10 is being driven. When access is desired to the
underhood area 16, that is, when the hood 14 is to be opened, the
driver's door 46 must be moved to the open position (FIGS. 1 and 4)
so that the release handle 50 may be accessed. With the driver's
door 46 in the open position, the release handle 50 is moved from a
first position substantially contained in the depression 48 (FIG.
6) to a second position (FIG. 8) in which the cable 52 pulls on the
release lever 68 so as to disengage the spur 70 from the latch
finger 62b of the primary latch 56. The primary latch 56 thus
rotates in a counterclockwise direction and the striker 30 moves
upwardly in the striker slot 55 until being obstructed by the hook
member 80 of the secondary latch 72, the release lever 68 being
moved to the primary latch release position releasing the primary
latch to the unlatch position. Upon further pulling outwardly of
the release handle 50 to a third position, the cable 52 further
rotates the release lever 68 in the counterclockwise direction (as
seen in FIG. 9) until an abutting surface 82 thereof contacts the
actuator pin 76 so as to move the secondary latch 72 to a position
(FIG. 9) in which the hook member 80 does not obstruct the movement
of the striker 30 from the striker slot 55. Once the hook member 80
no longer obstructs the striker slot 55, the striker 30 can move
away therefrom (FIGS. 10 and 11), thus allowing the hood 14 to open
(FIG. 2).
The latch fingers 62a, 62b preferably have cammed surfaces in order
to allow easy movement of the striker 30 and the spur 70,
respectfully, there against.
The release lever 68 is biased to the primary latch hold position
(FIG. 6) by a spring 90 having a first end 92 attached to a toe 94
of the release lever 68 and a second end 96 attached to the latch
mounting plate 54. The secondary latch 72 is biased to the lock
position (FIG. 7) by a spring 100 attached on a first end 102 to
the secondary latch 72 and on a second end 104 to the latch
mounting plate 54.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been
disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the
appended claims.
* * * * *